HISTORY
Babinda Harvest Festival was first held on the 27th of October 1962, however back then it was known as the Babinda Sugar Harvest Festival and was presented by the Bellenden Kerr Junior Farmers. Initially the street procession was held at 7.30pm and the Sugar Princess was crowned at 9pm in the Memorial Hall.
Entrants in the Sugar Princess quest came from Tully to Mossman and everywhere in between. Babinda’s own Joan Arnold (nee Dickson) claimed the title of the very first Sugar Princess. The day after the Festival an afternoon of water sports was held at the Russell River by the Russell River Water Sports Club.
BELLENDEN KER TAKES CHARGE
Bellenden Kerr Rural Youth took charge of the Festival held on the 29th of October 1966, then renamed as the Babinda Sugar Festival. The street procession began at Babinda Show Grounds (now known as Bill Wakeham Park), and the Festival was held at ANZAC Park.
Not only was there a prize for the Sugar Queen, crowned by Former Test Cricketer Wally Grout, second and third prizes were given out as well. A dance was also held at the Hall, with entertainment from Michael & the Mustangs and Blu-Stars Orchestra. The Festival was televised by ‘FNQ Channel 10 – Cairns’, and broadcast by Cairns radio station 4CA.
Our Festival has gone through many changes including our name, but in 1987 we finally settled on the ‘Babinda Harvest Festival’
IN ALL OUR YEARS AS A FESTIVAL, ONLY 3 HAVE BEEN MISSED!
1 In 1988 a Cobb & Co Coach came to town
2. In 2006 Cyclone Larry interrupted our Festival plans
3. In 2020 COVID-19 stopped the world in its tracks, including our festival
OUR HARVEST FESTIVAL QUEENS
1962 Joan Dickson (Arnold)
1963 Jannifer Harvey
1964 Kay Mann
1965 Barbara Kingston (Braithwaite)
1966 Desley Downina
1967 Jan Strutton
1968 Rosalina Corradi (Destro) (Pictured)
1969 Susan Omodie (O’Brien)
1970 Diane Fraser
1971 Bianca Prandolini (Jago)
1972 Lorraine Jones
1973 Lyn Lawson (willett)
1974 Francine Camilleri (Henrich)
1975 Lynette Guidice (Bartolo)
1976 Jane Harwood (Ballarino)
1977 Rosanna Torrisi
1978 Marian Prandolini (Ellwood)
1979 Gillian Raddatz
1980 Sheridan Morris
1981 Minnie Bombardieri (Francis)
1982 Maria Nucifora
1983 Amabile Destro
1984 Natalie Mellick (Nash)
1985 Kelli Grant
1986 Anne Dimarco (O’Brien)
1987 Donna Grant (Smith)
1988 NO FESTIVAL
1989 Karen Wilkins (Edgerton)
1990 Juanita Mellick
1991 Sharon Richards (Fisher)
1992 Fiona Bettini (Williams)
1993 Toni Bartlett (Sharpley)
1994 Megan Agius (Keough)
1995 Paula Oliveri (Spokes)
1996 Taleala Wilce (Wilce-Bone)
1997 Kristy St John (Tsakasiris)
1998 Kristy Andrews (Lyons) (Pictured)
1999 Sharyn Anderson (Greenwood)
2000 Aysha Harburn
2001 Many St John (Starkey)
2002 Melina Parisi (Seawright)
2003 Sunni Day
2004 Alison Macklin
2005 Samantha Bormolini
2006 NO FESTIVAL – CYCLONE LARRY
2007 Josephine McCulloch
2008 Karina Kurucz
2009 Taleesa Keily
2010 Sandra Jago
2011 Cheyenne Morris
2012 Kerin Panebianco
2013 Claudia Galea
2014 Rachel Ugarte
2015 Ellie Kelly
2016 Courtney Spokes
2017 Grace Ehling
2018 Deni Bettini
2019 Codi Spokes (Pictured)
2020 NO FESTIVAL – COVID-19
2021 Casey McCrae


